Plunder and other criminal charges were filed on Friday, Dec. 12, before the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) against Vice President Sara Duterte and 14 other officials over alleged misuse of P612.5 million confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (VP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure as education secretary.
Aside from plunder under Republic Act No. 7080 as amended by RA 7659, those charged were also accused of violations of Articles 210 and 212 of the Revised Penal Code on bribery; Sections 3(a) and (e) of R.A. No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act; Article XI, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution on betrayal of public trust; and culpable violation of the Constitution.
Also charged were Duterte’s Chief of Staff Zuleika T. Lopez, Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel G. Ortonio, Director for Administrative and Financial Service Rosalynne L. Sanchez, Chief Accountant Julieta L. Villadelrey, Special Disbursing Officer Gina F. Acosta, Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group Commander Col. Raymund Dante P. Lachica, Head of Procuring Entity Michael Wesley T. Poa, Director for Strategic Management Office Sunshine Charry A. Fajarda, Undersecretary for Finance Service Annalyn M. Sevilla, former head of Procurement Entity Gloria Mercado, Chief Accountant Ma. Rhunna L. Catalan, former special disbursing officer Edward D. Fajarda, former undersecretary for administration Ret. Maj. Gen. Nolasco A. Mempin, and VPSG member Lt. Col. Dennis Nolasco.
The complaints were filed by 2025 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Fr. Flaviano Villanueva, running priest Fr. Roberto Reyes, former presidential adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles, UP Professor Emerita Dr. Sylvia Estrada Claudio, economist and former Department of Finance undersecretary Dr. Maria Cielo Magno, writer and anti-corruption advocate Christopher Cabahug, and youth leaders Matthew Christian Silverio and John Lloyd Crisostomo.
The complaints stated that Duterte implemented an “identical, systematic scheme” between the OVP and DepEd to circumvent established laws and procedures governing confidential funds.”
The complainants alleged that confidential funds were used for national security matters, and Duterte’s staff would spend these on persons named in Acknowledgement Receipts.
However, the complainants pointed out that these individuals were non-existent as the names used made reference to snack names — “Mary Grace Piattos,” “Nova,” and “Oishi.” (Czarina Ong Ki)
